Omar García Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, clarified that the heavy security deployment—including National Guard and state forces—at the March 2 funeral of CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, 'El Mencho,' in Zapopan, Jalisco, was to safeguard citizens after prior disturbances, not to escort the remains. Authorities also uncovered evidence of cartel payments to local police.
In the days following the funeral of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho—leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), killed on February 22 in a federal operation—Omar García Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), addressed questions about the security operation on March 6.
"This operation was precisely to protect the citizenry, given the precedent we had days before of disturbances, blockades, and vehicle fires; this operation implemented by the National Guard and Jalisco state authorities was to protect the citizenry, not to escort anyone. It was to avoid any disturbance in the city and protect the citizenry," Harfuch stated.
No Army personnel are currently guarding the Recinto de la Paz Pantheon, despite potential visits to the site.
Separately, spreadsheets documenting payments to police and municipal authorities in Jalisco were discovered in a cabin at the Tapalpa Country Club, linked to the cartel. Harfuch declined to confirm probes into specific municipalities, stating that formal complaints are needed to open investigations, as with the mayor of Tequila. He did not disclose the number of entities under review.
During the funeral, an Italian student from the Tecnológico de Monterrey on exchange in Guadalajara was assaulted for attempting to photograph the site beyond security lines; he was beaten, lost two teeth, and had two cameras and a phone taken (later handed to pantheon staff).
